announcer ] progresso. you gotta taste this soup. of green giant vegetables it's easy to eat like a giant... ♪ and feel like a green giant. ♪ ho ho ho ♪ green giant >>> some schools say there was a higher absence from school on friday. this year the number was three times as high. old mill high school had a 57% absent rate, seven times higher than last year. a school spokesman said it was a combination of winter break and rumors of a planned school shooting and the possibility of a mayan apocalypse. >>> and next is "the chris matthews show," and that is followed by "meet the press" with david gregory. >> coming up, it's the christmas edition, part two, of the annual awards show. who showed the best political chops and what were the worst mowments in politics this year, and what is a sign of things to come for this year? it's our merry christmas roundtab roundtable. >>> good morning. the nra remains defiant in the wake of the newtown shooting that left 20 children dead, and calling for armed guards at every school. the head of the national rival association, wayne lapierre join

choices of green giant vegetables it's easy to eat like a giant... ♪ and feel like a green giant. ♪ ho ho ho ♪ green giant >>> if you drive northwest out of columbia, south carolina, and i'm going to admit something, i actually have not done this myself, you will eventually come to a teeny tiny little town called little mountain, south carolina. there it is. you can see it on the map there. little mountain, south carolina. population, 292 people. little mountain has a single stoplight, just one. and little mountain has a current job opening, mayor. there is currently no mayor in little mountain. which is odd. the mayor manages a $95,000 budget, plus state grants for school improvements and an elder care facility. there's also the little mountain reunion, a folk festival that draws around 10,000 people, big for little mountain. and which the mayor is supposed to help organize. little mountain seems to really need a mayor. and yet, nobody ran for the office in november when the 16-year incumbent retired. and the top two write-in candidates, they both turned the job down. they don't want t

. click or call. of green giant vegetables it's easy to eat like a giant... ♪ and feel like a green giant. ♪ ho ho ho ♪ green giant >>> welcome back to "hardball." the president has made clear he wants a deal. but just how will a deal get done? joining me from the hill is nbc's kelly o'donnell. kelly, i've heard a lot about the house bill going from one to senate and getting amended. is this a smoke screen? or is there some legislative need to use the vehicle that's been passed. >> well, being this the eyes glazed over for a moment, you're dealing with something that is about essentially taxes. and the constitutions and the laws make it so that it's a requirement that originate in the house of representatives. one of the challenges beyond the political arguments and the handshakes dial deal making that we hope will happen over the next few days, there are the mechanics of getting it done and getting it done in time. now, i'm always surprised by procedure that there is a way to pull a rabbit out of a hat when they have an agreement. but there are steps that need to be taken. will

. just two aleve can keep pain away all day. back to the news. of green giant vegetables it's easy to eat like a giant... ♪ and feel like a green giant. ♪ ho ho ho ♪ green giant >>> in 2012 the gop circus came to town and when the votes were counted, the clowns, they were sent packing. here is a very special end of the year edition of "top lines." step right up. >> no, no, no, no. >> shucky ducky. >> got to love that, right? >> what's up gangsters? >> the next president of the united states, paul ryan. >> my veins run with cheese, bratwurst, a little spotted cow, leinie's. >> we will have the first permanent base on the moon. >> any old girlfriends here? >> maybe i should just do all the talking. >> i love you, ladies and women. >> i love you, women. >> binders full of women. >> today has been awesome, girl. >> whoa. >> i hope i am the tim tebow of the iowa caucuses. >> it's bull [ bleep ]. come on, man. >> okay, libya. >> come on, man. >> becky-stan. >> do you think reverend wright is off limits in this campaign? >> it's called romnesia. >> worst republican to put up against ba

green giant vegetables it's easy to eat like a giant... ♪ and feel like a green giant. ♪ ho ho ho ♪ green giant >>> we're back with more from our roundtable. we'll get to some of the headlines that the president made on the wires here before we're through. but doris kearns goodwin, how does the president set priorities in a second term? he's got a pretty long list there and a pretty difficult environment in which to operate. >> the most important thing a president has to do knowing he has limited capital is to decide where do i put my ambitions and fdr once said i'm like a cat. i know when to pounce and when to pull back. i think the fact that he did not mention gun control makes him understand that unless he can argue public sentiment to overcome the enormous special interest, that's going to be a much harder one. immigration right at the top. and that's the one where he can mobilize that base. it's the base that elected him. it's going to make it harder for republicans. if he were to get immigration through, he starts on a successful platform and then maybe moves to other ones

announcer ] with over 50 delicious choices of green giant vegetables it's easy to eat like a giant... ♪ and feel like a green giant. ♪ ho ho ho ♪ green giant >>> welcome back to "morning joe." we want to continue a conversation on the big stories that shaped the past year and there were some others, even though the past recent events of the past week or so seem to overshadow everything. but why don't we start with john heilemann's choice of a certain statement made at a certain fund-raiser. >> well, just before i mention mitt romney's 47% comment, i want to go back to what joe said earlier. the big story of this election is president obama won and won not just in a race that everyone said was going to be razor thin, it would be super close, he ends up winning with 52% of the vote we now know one of only five presidents in history who has won more than 51% in two successful elections. >> and it's not even close when it comes to the swing states. >> correct. >> nine, ten, 11 swing states for a year and a half. at the end of the day it was no close. >> and no one could predict i

best and worst of the week. you'll want to hear this next. ke a giant... ♪ and feel like a green giant. ♪ ho ho ho ♪ green giant >> getting close to the top of the hour. back to the big three, for the best week, worst week. perry, i'll start with you, what's your best and worst this week? i picked chuck hagel. he's our defense secretary and he's getting attacked by democrats and republicans very harshly and has no chance to defend himself and for the winner, it's hard to pick a winner right now. washington is not working right now and it's hard to say anyone is doing a great job and this is not a great situation at all. >> all right, susan. again, it's best and worst, perry. that's all right. what are your best and worsts? >> i actually agree with perry. senator hagel had a horrible week and i think it's also a reflection that in current politics a white house has a democrat and republican that will have to realize you can't just float a name out there. you have to be ready to go to bat, as far as the best week and i agree washington didn't have a great week, but scott brown did, but he'll

of green giant vegetables it's easy to eat like a giant... ♪ and feel like a green giant. ♪ ho ho ho ♪ green giant >>> the name of this show is melissa harris perry. do not be fooled, i don't create this show by myself. what you see is the result of the brilliant insight, commitment and hard work of a whole team of people. the last show of the year seems like the right time to say thank you. to introduce you to the many nerds who bring you nerdland every week, have a safe and happy new year celebration. we'll see you in 2013. roll it. droid dna augmentation initiated. vision expanding to a 5-inch 1080p hd display and camera. touch acquiring nfc. hearing evolving with beats audio. wireless charging activated. introducing droid dna by htc. it's not an upgrade to your phone. it's an upgrade to yourself.

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. [ laughter ] >> jimmy: but anyway, applebee's is opening a green restaurant in new york that will have waterless urinals. yep. a wall made of plants. a rooftop rain water harvesting. yep. all of which will be underneath a giant million-watt neon sign that says applebee's. [ laughter ] [ applause ] ong. >> steve: that was the longest setup ever. >> jimmy: long walk for that joke. >> steve: long walk, yeah. worth it. >> jimmy: was it worth it? yeah. sports news. who likes their sports? [ cheers and applause ] jets coach rex ryan says he needs more time to decide who his starting quarterback will be next week. you could tell things were bad because right now it is between the third string quarterback or whoever wins "the voice." [ light laughter ] that is what they are thinking about. just saw that researchers have released a report that says, in the year 2050, white people will actually be the minority in america. man, i wonder what that would be like. [ laughter ] [ cheers and applause ] >> steve: who knows? >> jimmy: did you guys see this? at justin bieber's concert in new york last we